What’s the point of public executions?

Podcast: History Behind the Headlines · History Extra

Opublikowano: 2026-10-21

Two recent cases in the United States have brought the issue of state executions on to the front pages – the failed execution of murderer Christa Pike and, particularly, the plans to livestream the death of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 unarmed US military personnel in 2009. But how have attitudes towards the public display of death changed throughout the centuries? To explore this often upsetting topic, regular panellist Hannah Skoda is joined by Dr Catherine Jenkinson from Pembroke College, University of Oxford. Plus: as rioting continues in France, what does the medieval era tell us about the wa...